Alan Parsons Project “Standing on Higher Ground” charted

Standing on Higher Ground The Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) First Charted: January 24, 1987 Peak: 3 AR, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.64 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: 1987’s Gaudi proved to be the last hurrah for the Alan Parsons Project. The group, helmed by Parsons and singer/songwriter Eric Woolfson, launched in 1976 with Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Despite never touring, the Project built a following through their well-produced conceptual albums that traversed progressive-rock-lite territory. Songs such as “Damned if I Do” and “Games People Play” became staples at album rock radio. After peaking with 1982’s “Eye in the Sky,” a #3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the Project’s commercial appeal waned. 1984’s Ammonia Avenue produced two top-40 hits, but “Let’s Talk About Me” from 1985’s Vulture Culture only reached #56. “Stereotomy,” the lead single from the 1986 album of the same name, barely scraped the charts at #82. Those songs, however, did show the band still had a following at album-rock radio as they all reached the top 10 there. “Standing on Higher Ground” and “Prime Time,” from 1984’s Ammonia Avenue, were the most successful, each reaching #3. Still, Gaudi was the lowest charting album of the Project’s career, peaking at #57. “Standing on Higher Ground” “seems to be about enlightenment, both its advantages and pitfalls.” SF However, since album “is a tribute to celebrated architect Antoni Gaudi…perhaps it refers to him and his work.” SF Many singers have taken the mike for Alan Parsons Project and this time it was Geoff Barradale of the band Vitamin Z. He would later manage the Arctic Monkeys. Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Alan Parsons DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eric Woolfson SF Songfacts Related Links: First posted 7/6/2022.